Non-public sector unions: how much have their principles been corrupted?

[Kev408]

Don't get me wrong, I don't think for a second that public sector unions haven't allowed their principles to be corrupted. I'm more concerned about the private and semi-private unions.

I worked in Aer Lingus for over a decade and when we heard about so-called 'yellow-pack workers' being employed in the '80s by banks (the root of all evil) we thought 'well, the unions agreed so it must be ok.' When 'worker-directors' were introduced in companies, including Aer Lingus, we were sceptical but we thought 'well, the unions agreed so it must be ok.' When, and this is public knowledge, the leader of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) and a worker-director on the Eircom board, Con Scanlon, became an overnight millionaire with the flotation of what was then Telecom Eireann, I knew we had seriously f*cked up in thinking that the old socialist leanings of the Unions were worth a damn. Their principles had been corrupted by the lure of filthy lucre.

My point is this: capitalisation/Americanisation has won. I'm not anti-capitalism but I always thought the Unions were there to protect us from abuse by it. Naive? Maybe. I still pay my dues!

That said, I doubt the public sector unions will be properly supported by others when the leaders of the 'others' have already conformed to the world order as defined by those with money. Along with other nations Ireland is now driven by egocentricity and what I like to call 'I'm all right, Jackism.' Principles 0%, Money 100%.

[Kev408]

Why do you consider evil capitalism synonymous with America?

Haven't you heard that Obama intends to transform the US into a socialist utopia

Seriously though, think FDR and the New Deal, JFK/LJB and the Great Society program.

Individual Americans actually have a deep sense of fairness. And I'd have a lot more confidence of them pulling through this without going at each other throats, than our own little country of mé féiners.

Fair points above. I should really have said westernisation or modernisation rather than Americanisation. I like American people and have always been treated well there. Futhermore, our lads going at each other throats is extremely frustrating to observe.

I still think the Unions of the non-public sector sold out years ago though.

[Gimpanzee]

I don't know how anyone could disagree with you. Much of the growth in employment in the private sector in the past 15 years has been in non-unionised workplaces. If there was any argument regarding your point then you'd expect to have uproar over the lack of union representation given the crisis people are facing. But there isn't a whimper. Instead, much of the non-unionised workforce see the unions (particularly the ones that have a big public service membership) as a threat to their livelihoods and their living standards. That is the most damning indictment of the unions and their leadership.